On Wednesday morning, Cornell University made an announcement that it was withdrawing its invitation to the anti-Israel singer Kehlani from its forthcoming year-end concert, following an uproar among its student population. The decision came after a surge of indignation over Kehlani's selection as the headliner for the annual "Slope Day" concert, led by a petition initiated by pro-Israel students. President Michael Kotlikoff of Cornell issued a statement rescinding the invitation to the R&B artist.
"Regrettably, despite being unintentional, Kehlani's appointment as this year's headliner has instilled division and discord into Slope Day. Consequently, I am revoking Kehlani's invitation and anticipate the announcement of a fresh lineup for a fantastic 2025 Slope Day shortly," he penned in a statement released on Wednesday.
Previously, Cornell University had proclaimed that the Grammy-nominated singer would spearhead the concert, an annual year-end spectacle organized by a student-led board and funded through a mandatory Student Activities Fee paid by all undergraduate students.
Kotlikoff's announcement seemingly marked a reversal of his stance, as he had informed the outraged students last Thursday that school staff had only become aware of the performer's social media activity approximately three weeks ago, adding that it was "too late to secure another performer suitable or appropriate for Slope Day."
Over the years, the singer has disseminated numerous anti-Israel messages through her music and social media platforms, including a call for an "intifada." In one social media post, she exclaimed, "it's f--- Israel from the top of my lungs. I don't care about the f----- threats. DISMANTLE ISRAEL. ERADICATE ZIONISM." She also shared posts expressing her desire for Palestinians to seize control of the entire state of Israel and even advocated for an intifada in the music video for her song, "Next 2 U." Words such as "Long Live The Intifada" flashed across the screen during the video, a message perceived by Jews as a call for violent overthrow of Israel.
In the video, Kehlani and her dancers could be seen wearing outfits adorned with the black-and-white keffiyeh scarf design, often worn by Palestinians to signify their opposition to the Jewish state.
The students' petition urged the school to engage a different singer, arguing that Kehlani's anti-Israel messages "transcend political critique" and target the "vast majority of Jews" at the school who identify as Zionists.
"The fact that the university would permit a performer with views actively calling for violence to represent all students at an event makes me feel like I am not a respected member of this community," the statement read.
In his latest announcement, Kotlikoff stated, "Since Kehlani's announcement, I have heard profound concerns from our community that many are angry, hurt, and puzzled by Slope Day featuring a performer who has espoused antisemitic, anti-Israel sentiments in performances, videos, and on social media. While any artist has the right to express hateful views in our country, Slope Day is about uniting our community, not dividing it."
He further added, "I believe it is the right decision to ensure community and safety at this high-profile event that reaches the entire campus."
In response to the president's decision, the students' petition website was updated. It read, "Thanks to your support, the school has announced that Kehlani will not be performing at Slope Day! We deeply appreciate your assistance in this endeavor - we could not have succeeded without you!" Representatives for Kehlani did not promptly respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
